COMMENT

The Scottish Land Commission’s tenant farming watchdog is to conduct an investigation into allegations of bullying and intimidation during tenancy negotiations which have been levelled against one of the country’s largest landowners.

The accusations made against Buccleuch – along with claims that industry guidance on landlordtenant negotiations had potentially been breached – were raised at a public meeting to discuss forestry proposals on the 70,000 acre Eskdale and Liddesdale Estate earlier this week.

But yesterday Buccleuch –whichrepresenttheinterests of the Buccleuch family’s estates – announced that it had called on the Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC), Bob Mcintosh to look into its conduct during negotiations with agricultural tenants.

A spokesman said that the Duke of Buccleuch had also invited all tenants on the estate to face to face meetings to discuss their concerns.

At the meeting, one farming couple who leased land on a five-year fixed term “short limited duration tenancy” claimed they had been bullied as their tenancy came to an end.

There were other accusations that tenants had been unhappy with the way Buccleuch had dealt with the ending of limited partnership agreements, a form of tenancy which is being phased out.

Speaking yesterday, John Glen, chief executive at Buccleuch, said: “We deeply regret that any tenant feels they have been treated unfairly or have been bullied in any way. We take our responsibilities very seriously and always try to reach amicable agreements with tenants. However, sometimes that does not happen. Even if there is disagreement it should not give rise to accusations of bad professional practice.”

Glen said he had contacted Bob Mcintosh, the Tenant Farming Commissioner, to ask him to look into these accusations as a matter of urgency. 0 John Glen ‘deeply regrets’ any misconduct

“We hope that tenants will make contact with and speak to him on a confidential basis so these matters can be addressed properly.

“The commissioner has said he will visit the estate and we will give him every assistance in this matter.”

He pointed out that the tenants who had complained of being bullied had been offered an additional year to stay on the farm and discussions were ongoing over other potential solutions.

Glen added that Buccleuch had also offered secure 1991 Act tenants on Eskdale and Liddesdale Estate the opportunity to buy their farms.

The Scottish Land Commission (SLC) yesterday confirmed that the TFC had been asked by Buccleuch Estates to look into concerns raised at the meeting.

“The primary purpose of the Tenant Farming Commissioner is to promote good relations between landlords and tenants in the agricultural holdings sector,” said Mcintosh.

“I will look into these cases to consider whether they were handled in accordance with good practice and relevant published codes and guides. I am assured that I will have full

“The Duke of Buccleuch has to be congratulated for appearing at the meeting in person rather than hiding behind his team of factors”